METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHARGING OPERATIONS IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK SUPPORTING SERVICE SESSIONS FOR DIRECT END USERS

• US 20180220277A1
• Filed: 01/25/2018
• Published: 08/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: SENARATH, Nimal Gamini, ZHANG, Hang
• Granted Patent: US 10,271,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/59 based on real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8027 based on network load situation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for supporting customer charging in 5G networks are provided. Monitoring functions are instantiated at selected network locations for tracking access to network services. The monitoring functions provide charging information for use in customer billing. A customer can enter a service level agreement with a particular customized method of charging for service usage, and the monitoring functions can be customized to provide charging information according to the service level agreement. Charging can vary based on factors such as time of day, network congestion, service traffic characteristics, and geographic location.

Claims

1. A method for collecting network usage information, comprising:

transmitting an instruction to instantiate a monitoring function at a location in a communication network, the location selected to allow monitoring of traffic flows associated with usage, by a UE, of a network slice instantiated in the network, the monitoring function configured to monitor the traffic flows, wherein the UE uses the network slice for accessing an on-demand service;

receiving, from the monitoring function, network slice usage information based on the traffic flows; and

charging a designated payment entity for usage of the on-demand service by the UE, based on the network slice usage information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a customer entity responsible for the UE does not have a prior contractual relationship with a provider of the on-demand service.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the UE to access the on-demand service based on a predetermined policy and successful authentication of credentials provided by the UE, and blocking the UE from accessing the on-demand service otherwise.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the credentials include an identity of the designated payment entity, and wherein said authentication of credentials comprises verifying that the designated payment entity is responsible for paying for usage, by the UE, of the on-demand service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring of the traffic flows comprises monitoring one or more of:

type of service provided using the traffic flows;

duration of service provided using the traffic flows;

traffic flow type;

traffic flow duration;

traffic volume per service type;

traffic volume per traffic flow type;

network resource usage;

number of traffic flows per service; and

number of sessions per service.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, to an entity responsible for the UE or to the designated payment entity, information indicative of charging rates for usage of the on-demand service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring function is further configured to monitor performance of a session used for delivering the on-demand service to the UE.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the designated payment entity is an entity other than an entity responsible for the UE.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the designated payment entity is a third party responsible for payment for access to the on-demand service by the UE, the third party being uninvolved in delivery or receipt of the on-demand service.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the designated payment entity is an over-the-top service provider involved in delivering the on-demand service, and wherein the on-demand service is limited to accessing a service portfolio provided by the over-the-top service provider.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the designated payment entity is an over-the-top service provider involved in delivering the on-demand service, and wherein the on-demand service includes a connectivity service supporting communication between the UE and the over-the-top service provider.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a database indicative of services being offered by one or more mobile network operators including an operator of the communication network, one or more service providers providing a set of services including the on-demand service, or a combination thereof, the database accessible to end users including an end user responsible for the UE.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying performance parameters for providing the on-demand service according to one or more of:

current network conditions;

preferences of an end user responsible for the UE; and

preferences of the designated payment entity.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the on-demand service comprises creating an instance of the on-demand service, the instance provided using resources of the network slice, and wherein the network slice is a new network slice or an existing network slice.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining a customer service instance descriptor for the on-demand service and creating or modifying a network slice descriptor for the network slice, and using the customer service instance descriptor and the network slice descriptor to direct operation of the monitoring function.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a charging control function for generating charging information based on the network slice usage information and according to a negotiated agreement with the designated payment entity.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein providing the charging control function comprises determining a location in the communication network for the charging control function, and instantiating the charging control function in the determined location.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the location for the charging control function is within the network slice.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising configuring the charging control function to generate the charging information based on one or more of:

an amount of data provided according to the on-demand service;

a data rate of the on-demand service;

a bandwidth used for providing the on-demand service;

geographic locations of the UE;

quality of service (QoS) metrics for data provided according to the on-demand service;

a number of identifiable interactions between the UE and the on-demand service;

an amount of resources used in providing the on-demand service;

satisfaction of key performance indicators described in a negotiated agreement for providing the on-demand service; and

times of access to the on-demand service.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring function is configured to monitor operations in the communication network and generate one or more of:

an amount of data provided according to the on-demand service;

a data rate of the on-demand service;

a bandwidth used for providing the on-demand service;

geographic locations of the UE;

quality of service (QoS) metrics for data provided according to the on-demand service;

a number of identifiable interactions between the UE and the on-demand service;

an amount of resources used in providing the on-demand service;

satisfaction of key performance indicators described in a negotiated agreement for providing the on-demand service; and

times of access to the on-demand service.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a feedback mechanism configured to indicate, to the designated payment entity, one or more of:

violations of QoS metrics for data provided according to the service;

dynamic variations in a charging policy according to a negotiated agreement for providing the on-demand service; and

charging related messages.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the on-demand service is provided directly to the UE, and the on-demand service comprises a single connectivity session provided in response to a request for the on-demand service.

23. An electronic device in a network, the electronic device comprising a processor, a network interface and a memory and configured to:

instantiate or operate a monitoring function at a location in a communication network, the location selected to allow monitoring of traffic flows associated with usage, by a UE, of a network slice instantiated in the network, the monitoring function configured to;

monitor the traffic flows, wherein the UE uses the network slice for accessing an on-demand service;

generate network slice usage information based on the traffic flows; and

charge a designated payment entity for usage of the on-demand service by the UE, based on the network slice usage information.